The engagement banquet at the Yu family's residence was held with much fanfare. However, several families within the compound found themselves in an embarrassing predicament. It turned out they had, with their perceived capabilities, attempted to investigate Xiao Bo. The outcome, as expected, was a stern lecture from their respective superiors, who suggested they take up duty at their posts if they had so much free time.
Being reprimanded by their superiors, they naturally understood that Xiao Bo was not someone they could investigate. Upon hearing the news of Captain Zeng's appearance in the compound, they finally grasped Xiao Bo's true identity. This Yu Jinghai had quietly brought home a son-in-law who was a golden turtle. It wasn't that others were marrying into the Yu family; rather, it was the Yu family that was marrying into a superior connection. Who would have thought that that unremarkable farmer couple had such a promising son?
Gao Wenshi frowned upon hearing the hushed whispers circulating in the compound. If an ordinary person had such a promising son, wouldn't they become arrogant? Even families like theirs, if they produced such a talent, would hold their heads high with a sense of superiority.
"Caiyun, are you sure Ziyu's parents-in-law are farmers?"
"Absolutely!" Lou Caiyun nodded vigorously. "That smell, I could tell the moment I smelled it, a earthy odor that couldn't be washed away."
Gao Wenshi's frown deepened. "Do you know that Ziyu's fiancé is under Captain Zeng?"
Lou Caiyun looked confused. "Which Captain Zeng?"
Gao Wenshi glared at her. "Who else could it be but Captain Zeng? Is there anyone whose title as just 'Captain' makes us tremble with fear?"
"Ah? Special..." Lou Caiyun exclaimed a single word before covering her mouth.
"Hmph!" Gao Wenshi snorted heavily at her. "You judged them by their appearance, didn't you?"
"Your words led me to a preconceived notion, and I offended someone without even realizing it."
"Uncle Shen must be secretly rejoicing. Father must be angry with me. We both knew Shen Jianrong's personality so well."
"And that woman's appearance, how could she have stayed in the countryside safely until today without any real capability?"
"Shallow! Ignorant!"
Lou Caiyun removed her hand from her mouth. "How was I supposed to know they were deliberately hiding their identity?"
"Besides, when Uncle Shen introduced them, he not only didn't say where they were from, but he also didn't say their full names. He did it on purpose."
On purpose? Gao Wenshi's brows knitted into a mountain. Why would Uncle Shen deliberately mislead them? Their family only had sons, so they couldn't possibly snatch Ziyu's fiancé away. Ziyu's fiancé had a special identity, so it was understandable to be vague when introducing them. But was it necessary to be vague about the identities of that farmer couple?
No, he had to call his father.
Upon receiving the call from his second son, Old Master Gao naturally gave his second son a thorough scolding. However, he also couldn't figure out what Old Shen was up to:
"Say it again, how did your Uncle Shen introduce that couple?"
Gao Wenshi repeated what Old Master Shen had said when introducing the couple: "...Uncle Shen also told Caiyun that they were Xiao Li and Xiao Tian when he introduced them."
"You know Uncle Shen; you never know if he's referring to their surname or given name when he calls people."
Old Master Gao admitted that his second son was right; Old Shen always gave people nicknames. He then asked, "You said that couple was very reserved when facing you?"
Gao Wenshi was certain. "Yes, for the entire duration of a game of chess, they just sat there quietly, like fools."
"That's not right!" Old Master Gao denied. "They drove two cars to the military region, and at least one of them was theirs."
"Are farmers who can afford cars ordinary farmers?"
"Combined with having such a promising son, are they people who are reserved and lack discernment?"
"What is that old fox, Old Shen, playing at?"
"Li and Tian, those are indeed surnames. Do we know anyone with those surnames among our acquaintances?"
"No." Gao Wenshi was sure. "There is no one with the surname Tian in our circle."
"The surname Li is common, but in our circle, they are considered to be at the bottom. There's no need for Uncle Shen to be so secretive about it."
"Now that you mention it, I think Uncle Shen is targeting you. By the way, he also told Caiyun: 'Tell your father-in-law that I came by today.'"
Old Master Gao fell into deep thought. Old Shen was indeed targeting him, but for what? Farmers who could afford cars? Quite a few farmers had become wealthy through poverty alleviation programs, so there should be many who could afford cars. But how many were willing to buy them? Didn't farmers prioritize building houses and marrying off their children first? Poverty alleviation program... That's it! The poverty alleviation program – in the Kushan Mountains – the nursery base – Captain Tian – ginseng. This old fox!
"Wenshi, I'm coming over now. You keep an eye on whether that couple is leaving?"
"If they prepare to leave before I arrive, find a way to stall them."
"Father?" Gao Wenshi didn't understand what his father intended to do.
Old Master Gao, worried that his second son might make another misjudgment, gave him a reminder: "Wenshi, the person in charge of the nursery base in the Kushan Mountains is surnamed Tian."
Kushan Mountains? Nursery base? Gao Wenshi didn't believe him. "Father, it's the woman who is surnamed Tian."
"Foolish!" Old Master Gao berated his second son. "Who says a woman can't have that kind of ability? Aren't there female members in the special detachment?"
"Damn it!" Old Master Gao couldn't help but curse. "The deputy captain of the special detachment, who appeared out of nowhere, has always been mysterious, but he is also surnamed Tian."
"Old Shen, that old fox, he's going to drive me mad!"
Gao Wenshi was bewildered. What was his father talking about?
"Father, are you saying that Captain Tian of the special detachment and the person in charge of the nursery base are the same person?"
"Yes!" Old Master Gao spat out the word through gritted teeth. Everyone had been talking about Captain Tian before the New Year. Why hadn't he connected this Captain Tian with the Captain Tian of the special detachment? The countryside now was villages, no longer production teams. Why did he so readily assume Captain Tian was a former production team leader?
"Bang!" Old Master Gao slammed the table in anger. "You find me two clean rooms to stay in; I don't want to live in a pigsty!"
"Beep, beep, beep." The sound of the phone hanging up echoed in Gao Wenshi's ears. He knew about the Ginseng Consolidation Pills. If Old Master Shen had made his move first, then the entire Ginseng Consolidation Pills would be in Old Master Shen's hands. If the Ginseng Consolidation Pills proved to be highly effective, not only would the heads of over twenty families bow to Old Master Shen, but even those in higher positions would place the Shen family at the very forefront.
He shook his head, clearing his muddled mind. As he walked out of the study, he saw his wife standing by the door. He waved his hand and said, "Go clean the rooms. Father is coming immediately. He said he doesn't want to live in a pigsty."
Lou Caiyun held her face, feeling extremely wronged. "What happened? Why is Father coming so suddenly?"
"Because," Gao Wenshi said through gritted teeth, "because that couple is the benefactor Father has been looking for."
"You offended them, and on top of that, why didn't you tell Father the message Uncle Shen told you to relay?"
Benefactor? Lou Caiyun blinked her teary eyes. Could her father-in-law's benefactor be that farmer couple exuding an earthy smell?
Gao Wenshi shouted at her, "Still not going to clean the rooms?"
Lou Caiyun lowered her head and replied, "Yes, I'll go right now."
Gao Wenshi calmed his anger and went into the bathroom to wash his face. Looking at the bathroom, which was worse than a public toilet, he ordered Lou Caiyun, who was fetching water, "After you've tidied up the rooms, immediately clean the bathrooms upstairs and downstairs. Every crack, every corner, I want it all scrubbed clean."
Lou Caiyun backed away. "I, I, there might not be enough time. Can I hire someone to help?"
Gao Wenshi waved his hand. "Go quickly! Money is no object, just hurry up and make every room on both floors look brand new." What if his father planned to invite the benefactor for a meal? How could such rooms host a benefactor?
Lou Caiyun also understood her husband's thoughts. She hurried out of the courtyard. After washing his face, Gao Wenshi changed his clothes and walked out of the living room, where he encountered several women brought back by Lou Caiyun. The women stopped and nodded at him.
"Minister Gao."
"Minister Gao."
"Mm." Gao Wenshi replied and then walked out the door.
Watching her husband's back, Lou Caiyun opened her mouth, wanting to ask where he was going, but she was afraid of angering him and losing face in front of his subordinates' wives. She quickly urged the women to help with the cleaning. Within two hours, the entire two floors were to be cleaned thoroughly, with each person earning a hundred yuan. Overtime would result in deductions, or even no payment.
It was the first time the women had seen the rooms in the Minister's house besides the living room and kitchen. They all shook their heads and said they couldn't manage; each person could only take on one room at most. The bathrooms alone required two people each to be cleaned within two hours. The kitchen and living room also needed two people each to be cleaned to look like new. Lou Caiyun had no choice but to count the heads and go out to find more people.